InfiniBand - Computer Definition
An architecture and specification for data flows between processors and high performance I/O devices such as servers in a storage area network (SAN), InfiniBand is a high-performance switched fabric interconnect standard.The baseline 1X InfiniBand specification supports a signaling rate of 2.5 Gbps using 8B10B coding, which yields a data rate of 2 Gbps. The more capable 4X specification quadruples the signaling rate to 10 Gbps and the data rate to 8 Gbps by spreading a datastream over four bonded links. The 12X specification supports a signaling rate of 30 Gbps and a data rate of 24 Gbps. Double-rate and quad-rate options effectively double and quadruple each of these theoretical speeds. See also 8B10B, architecture, bonding, and SAN.
A high-speed interface used to connect storage networks and computer clusters, introduced in 1999. Using switched, point-to-point channels similar to mainframes and also similar to PCI Express (switched version of PCI), InfiniBand is designed for fabric architectures interconnecting devices in local networks. A Technology Merger Supporting both copper wire and optical fibers and originally known as "System I/O," InfiniBand is a combination of Intel's NGIO (Next Generation I/O) and Future I/O from IBM, HP and Compaq. For more information, visit the InfiniBand Trade Association at www.infinibandta.org. See RDMA, PCI Express, NGIO and Future I/O. INFINIBAND SIGNALING SPEEDS IN EACH DIRECTION (Gigabits per Second) Data transfer rate is 80% of signaling speed. Type Number of (DR = Bonded Channels data rate) 1x 4x 8x 12x Single (SDR) 2.5 10 20 30 Double (DDR) 5 20 40 60 Quad (QDR) 10 40 80 120 14 (FDR) 14 56 112 168 Enhanced (EDR) 26 104 208 312